Page 20 of The Dare

It sounds more like a monologue about herself than an observation about me.

She thinks about saying something else, I can tell, her brow furrows with emotion and concentration, but she lets it pass.

“I’m just worried I won’t get to see you before I have to go. And your dad...” she trails off, but I’m already looking past her, eager to get to where I’ve been ordered to go.

To Michael.

Why the heck would I want to stop and talk about anything else?

“Just don’t get your hopes up,” my mom finally says knowingly.

Projecting her own failed relationship onto me, even though I’m just going to sit with someone in first class instead of trying to make a relationship work that has failed up until now.

I try not to make a face, but mom walks ahead of me and within moments we’re back at the familiar doorway, which is closed now.

It even has a little doorbell, which mom buzzes.

Michael opens the door swiftly, his eyes looking pleased when he sees me but his face grows dark when he looks at my mom up and down.

“I just wanted to say,” Mom starts, already turning to leave, “That it’s very kind of you to want to share some of your time in first class with my daughter…”

I shoot Michael an apologetic look, and his face lifts once he figures what mom’s not staying.

“I’ll have her back to you before bedtime,” Michael assures her. Making sure it’s clear he has no intentions of keeping me all night.

I feel my heart sink a little at the thought.

Feeling like a kicked puppy or someone who’s had a wish come true because of pity.

Mom and Michael murmur a few more civilities, the kind of things grown-ups always talk about keeping me out of the loop.

I wonder why he insisted I come up here to be with him if he’s just going to return me later, like something disposable.

Mom leaves, seeming flushed. Embarrassed by the imposing figure of Michael up close, as well as his authoritative voice.

His movements. His obvious grip and control on everything in his domain.

I open my mouth to grumble.

To let him know that I don’t have to be here if he doesn’t really want me. If he’s just going to—

But he’s gripped me by the arm and pulled me inside before I can even say a word, squeaking from the shock.

His mouth presses hot over mine in an instant.

His body pushing mine back into the closed door as it becomes clear to me in a moment that he was saying whatever he had to as long as it got rid of my mom.

In private now, my hands are free to roam, and I gasp.

I gasp so loud when I feelitin my hand, that I laugh.

The sudden and deafening blast from the train’s horn coincides with the exact moment I finally find Michael’s horn.

His arousal is thick, long, and hot.

And from what I understand, I’m all his until he tells me otherwise.

Chapter Six